Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- Work Gloves
- Bath Towels
- Bird Cages
- Bird Perches
- Veterinarian
Step1
Consult with an avian veterinarian to determine which medication technique is best - oral, injection, a gavage tube (mixing medication and food) or by adding medication to food or water.
Step2
Ask for a "hands-on" demonstration if you are a beginner.
Step3
Fill the dropper with the prescribed dose of medication and place it within easy reach.
Step4
Capture the bird and hold it gently in your hand or wrapped in a towel, head exposed and tilted upward, allowing access to the mouth.
Step5
Restrain wings and legs in your grasp to prevent injury or escape.
Step6
Place dropper at corner of mouth and slowly dispense medication by squeezing the dropper bulb and allow the medication to trickle between the upper and lower beak into the back of the mouth.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Reward your bird with praise and affection after it takes the medicine. I reward my bird with her favorite treat - a sunflower seed. That way she does not dread her medicine so much, and we end up on a happy note.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Please be very careful NOT to force the liquid from the eye dropper into the bird's throat. The liquid could easily go into the bird's lungs and cause suffocation. Put only 1 or 2 drops into the bird's mouth allowing him/her time to swallow on its own.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Dim the lights in the room until you can just barely see the bird. Chances are he will not be able to see you as you reach quietly into the cage to quickly but gently grasp him in your hand.